Blacksburg Travel Guide by Leah Clemens

What to Do in Blacksburg, Virginia

Market Square - Leah Clemens	Vintage Market Sunday of every month from April - November 10am-5pm Held in Market Square, Vintage Market is an offshoot of the Farmer's Market with a selection of vendors offering an eclectic collection of goods. Upcycled crafts, antiques, and quality vintage items including clothing and accessories. I really love it when I can find some cool vintage folk art to hang on my wall, it's nice to find stuff that you wouldn't usually see elsewhere.
Where the International Street Fair is held yearly - Leah Clemens	International Street Fair 290 College Ave, Blacksburg, VA 24060 April 22nd 12 noon to 4:00pm This event offers an exotic splash of color to Blacksburg after a long winter. All afternoon there's an array of amazing cultural delicacies, spices, and fascinating live performances. Virginia Tech students from different parts of the world come together to offer a glimpse into their different cultures.
The Lyric Theater - Leah Clemens	Shows at the Lyric Royal Wedding May 19th, 2018 The Lyric, known as "the Heart of Blacksburg", is an amazing place to visit while in the area. Its old style and replica lanterns transport the viewer into the past during whatever show they come to see. I watched an amazing performance of Much Ado About Nothing and I'll never forget the old timey feel and fantastic ambiance the theater added to the show. This year the Lyric is featuring the Royal Wedding live! There will be a funky formal wear contest and a cash champagne bar. Doors open at 6am, wear something silly!
Mural in Market Square - Leah Clemens	Market Square Jam Market Square Park June-September 8pm-10pm Market Square Jam is a group of local musicians who sit together and play old style tunes on various instruments. Anyone is welcome to bring their instrument and join in the jam. If you're not musically inclined, it's a great place to bring a chair or blanket to sit and enjoy the tunes.
Stage for the live performances - Leah Clemens	Friday Night Outdoor Concerts Henderson Lawn Stage, Virginia Tech Campus (Rain site: Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires Student Center) June 1,8,15,22,29 - July 13,20,27 6 pm - 7:30 pm Admission: FREE Henderson Lawn is located at the corner of Main St. and College Ave. There's nothing quite like spending a lovely summer evening sitting in a park listening to live music. Grab a drink and some food from one of the nearby restaurants and enjoy your time with friends and great tunes. Parking can be a bit difficult downtown, but if you don't mind walking there are several parking complexes nearby.
One of the Summer Solstice locations - Leah Clemens	Summer Solstice Saturday June 16, 2018, 1-11pm The festival is full of fun and free events for adults and children alike: Water Wars, moon bounces, an adorable doggie costume contest, and the famous Alberti’s Fleas Circus. One of the best acts to see is definitly Circus Stella. It's a traditional family circus, featuring special acts from talented rescue dogs and other great human performances like trapeze and aerial silk. Showtimes for Circus Stella are at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm in Blacksburg First Church of God Parking Lot behind Cabo Fish Taco. Also performing for the first time at the Summer Solstice Festival is New River Irish Dance. Parking can be difficult to find, thankfully Blaksburg parking police take a break during the festival so parking lots include concrete and grass.
Farmer's Market - Leah Clemens	Art at the Market July 21st 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Art at the Market also includes Breakfast at the Market. It's the perfect opportunity to step out with friends, get some delicious breakfast and admire the art. The art is displayed in the form of a sidewalk exposition, artists showing off their pieces that range from acrylics to stone sculptures. There's usually a table set up for the children who feel inspired to create their own art pieces. It's a great time for families and college students to get out in the fresh air and enjoy Blacksburg's thriving art culture.
Main Street Blacksburg, the main area for Steppin' Out - Leah Clemens	Steppin' Out Friday August 3rd, 10am-11pm Saturday August 4th, 10am-10pm Steppin' Out has a wide variety of sights and activities. Live music plays most of the day, and local acts take the stage in between music performances. The streets are lined with various food and novelty vendors, as well as a few face painters. The Farmer's Market is a great place to go during the festival for fresh foods and some delicious popsicles. Children can also enjoy some fun activites like the bouncy castle. There's even an area for hula-hooping.
Craft beer flight - Leah Clemens	Blacksburg Brew Do Different venue every year. September 22, 2018 (changes annually) Brew Do is an annual festival where local breweries can showcase their amazing selection of ales. The event is full of great beer, delicious food, cooking and brewing demonstrations, as well as live entertainment.
Top of the Stairs venue - Leah Clemens	Blacksburg Comedy Club Every Wednesday night 9:30pm-11:30pm Top of the Stairs (TOTS) hosts Blacksburg's amazing Comedy Club on Wednesday nights featuring rising student comedians. They draw all their material from personal experiences creating an original set every Wednesday to keep things fresh. At times the club also features well known comedians for the night as they're touring the US.